Line-casting machine.



J. R. ROGERS.

LINE CASTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 16, 1911.

Patented Nov. 4, 1913.

PVITNESSIES:

JOHN R. ROGERS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO MERGENTHALER LINOTYPE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

LINE-CASTING- MACHINE.

machines of the Mergenthaler type, repr e.

sent-ed as to their general organization in Letters Patent of the United States Nos. &36532 and 557,000. In these machines the circulating matrices are stored in an inclined magazine, secured to a heavy base-frame, which is in turn mounted in the main-frame. This base-frame is sustained near its upper end by a horizontal rod or bar forming a part of the main-frame, and is supported at the lower or front end by a fixed, vertically channeled faceplate, through which the matrices are delivered, or by an equivalent support.

iVhen it is required to speedily change the size or style of type characters produced by the machine the magazine may be removed and-replaced by another containing matrices of a different font. This removal is effected by two attendants, one of whom stands at the front of the machine and lifts the forward end of the magazine until it assumes a horizontal position, being sustained at the rear end by the rod abovementioned. The two attendants, one at the rear and the other at the front, slide the magazinebackward over the bar until it is balanced thereon, after which the attendant at the front passes to the rear to assist his companion in lifting the magazine clear of the machine.

The object of the present invention is to adapt machines of the above class, and more particularly the old machines already in existence, for a more speedy, easier and safer removal of the magazine; and to this end it consists in combining with the main-frame and the magazine, means adapted to lift the forward end of the magazineclear of the parts at the front of the machine, and give it support in such manner that it may be easily disengaged from the support at the rear, and drawn forward clear of the at Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 16, 1911.

Patented Nov. 4, 1913.

Serial No. 602,865.

chine at the front without danger of canting or tipping sidewise.

The invention also consists in various details of construction hereinafter described.

With the exception of the parts speeifi 'cally described herein the machi ie may be in all respects of the construction in the abovementioned Letters Patent, or of the construction embodied in commercial Mergenthaler linotype machines familiar to all persons skilled in the art.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view, looking from the, rear, of the upper part of a Mergenthaler'machine with my improvement embodied therein. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the magazine. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section illustrating the manner in which the magazine receives support in itselevated position while being withdrawn from or applied to the machine.

Referring to the drawings; A represents the mainframe, comprising, among other parts, the column a, the skeleton frame or bracket a, secured to the column and extending laterally therefrom to support the matrix distrilmting mechanism B, and the horizontal rod 1, which latter sustains the upper rear end of the magazine.

D represents the magazine as a whole, comprising the magazine proper--eonsisting, as usual, of two parallel plates, (1 and J, spaced apart and provided with internal longitudinal channels to receive and guide the edges of the matriees.u\d the rigid base-frame d, to which the magazine proper is secured, and by which the magazine is prevented from sagging or twisting out of form, as it would otherwise do, in consequence of the weight of the contained matrices.

As shown in the drawings, the magazine when in operative position stands at an inclination, its upper rear end being rigidly supported on the rod C, and its lower end sustained on the face-plate or forward portion of the main-frame.

In carrying my invention into effect I provide a support by which the forward end of the magazine may be lifted and upheld clear of the face-plate and the other parts at the front of the machine, so that it maybe safely and rapidly drawn forward out of the machine, over the support as a fulcrum. This support may -be constructed in various equivalent'forms, as will appear to the skilled mechanic after reading this specification.

In the form shown the support consists of a horizontal roller or rodll, underlying the magazine near the forward end, and firmly attached to the arm or lever F, which is in turnsecnred to the shaft Gr, mounted in a rigid bracket or bearing H, which I secure to the main-frame. This shaft is provided with a lover 1, extending rearwardand downward in convenient reach of the attendant. The parts F, G and 1 form in effect a rigid or continuous.member. lVhen the nmgazine is to be removed the attendant de presses the rear end of the lever I, the effect of which 15 to l ft the horizontal rod or support E, causlng it to carry the forward end of the magazine upward, clear of the front parts of the machine, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. After the magazine is thus lifted it is sustained in position by locking the lever. This may be elfected by means of a, pin J, adapted to enter a hole in the mainme, behind the lever, or by any other suitable means. The effect is to sustain the magazine support I) so that it in turn sus tains or supports the magazine at a point midway of its length, or thereabout, the rear end resting for the time being on the fixed rod (3. When the magazine is thus sustained the attendant, passing to the front of the machine, and taking hold of the for ward end of the magazine, is enabled to draw it forward and dowmvard to, such a position that it. :an be lifted clear-of the machine. Dining this action the rear end of the magazine slides upon and is sustained bythe elevated rod F, which not only Sustains a portion of the weight, but prevents the magazine from tipping or canting sidewise.

if the. magazine is made as usual, with rigid hooks or lugs at the upper end engaging behind the rod C, it may be canted on the rod it as a fulcrum to lift those hooks clear of the rodC before it is moved forward; but in order to avoid this canting or unlocking action I prefer to provide the magazine on each side with a long lever K, pivoted at 7 1, and having its rear end bent downward or inclined over the rod C. By depressing the forward ends of these levers their rear ends may be lifted and disengaged from the rod C, and the magazine permitted to slide directly forwardon the rod or support E. i i L So far as described the magazine, except as to the levers K, is of the same construction as that commonly used in commercial lilergenthaler machines, and shown in Patent No. l36,532the magazine with the base-frame and the eseapements which control the delivery of the matrices being removed as a unit.

When another magazine is to be applied the rod E is secured in the elevated position,

the rear end of the magazine laid on this rod as a support, the magazineshovcd upward and rearward to the limit, and the forward end dropped down to the operative position. L represents a curved, channeled throat or entrance attached to the upper end of the magazinein position to receive the matrices falling from the distributor above. This throat, hinged to the magazine, may be retaine'd, or a separate throat, otherwise sup ported, may be used, in a manner well understood in the art, this feature forming no part of my invention.

"While I recommend the employment of the rod E and the lever supporting and sus-v tain the magazlne as a whole, including the base-frame, may be employed.

I believe it to be wholly new in this class of machines to provide a support. by which a magazine sustained at the rear may be lifted at the front and sustained for removal in a forward direction, the support being of such character as to admit of the magazine being drawn forward and canted downward over it for removal at the front.

lt to be noted that in the construction herein shown the support 1*] directly underlies the middle portion of the rigid basefranuoi the magazine, so that althongh the heavy magazine is raised to such height and position that it cannot be withdrawn directly forward from the machine, it can be i readily moved forward su'll'iciently to he balanced on the support, and then canted downward at the front and moved forward into such a position that it can be grasped and removed by the attendant, the support E serving during this action to sustain a portion of the weight and to prevent the maga zinc from coming in contact with the faceplate or. forward parts of the machine. A clear distinction is to be drawn between this support,-terminating under the middle por tion of the rigid magazine, and those tlat supporting frames which are mounted rigidly in the main-frame and adapted to extend under the whole length of themagazine, for the purpose of giving the magazine proper rigidity when in action, and of sustaining it to the extreme front of the ma- 1. In a line casting machine of the class described, the main-frame"containing the rod (3 and the inclined magazine sustained at its upper end on said rod, and relatively movable means connected to the magazine whereb the magazine may be disconnected from t e rod at will, in combination with forward end of the means for lifting the magazine and sustaining the same near the middle of its length, said means adapted to permit the magazine to be drawn forward and balanced ther'eover and removed at the frontof the machine.

2. In combination, the main frame having a rear magazine support, the inclined magazine removable therefrom in a forward direction, the rod E underlying the middle portion of the magazine, lever connections for lifting the rod and upholding the same, and locking devices connected to the magazine and engaging the support, the said devices being movable relative] to the magazine to disengage them from he support and permit the removal of the magazine.

3. In a machine of the class described the combination of the main frame, an inclined magazine with a rigid base-frame, and

a lifting and sustaining means directly underlying the middle portion of the magazine, said means adapted to permit the magazine to be drawn'forward thereon and balanced thereover for removal at the front of the machine, together with relatively movable means connected to the base frame whereby the magazine may be disengaged from the main frame at will.

4. In a machine of the class described, the main frame, the inclined magazine mounted thereon and removable therefrom in a forward direction, locking means the magazine and engaging the main frame to support it in position thereon, and means for lifting and sustaining the magazine without disengaging the locking means from the main frame, the said locking means be ing movable relatively to the magazine to disengage them from the main frame and permit the removal of the magazine.

5. In a machine of the class described, the main frame having a support for the rear end of the magazine, the inclined magazine removable therefrom in a forward direction, and locking devices carried by the magazine and engaging the rear support, the said devices being movable relatively to the magazine to disengage them from the support and permit the removal of the magazine.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a magazine holder, a magazine mounted thereon in an inclined position and adapted to slide forwardly by gravity, and a locking device carried by the magazine and engaging the holder and serving to support the magazine against forward move-' ment, said device being movable relatively to the magazine to disengage it from the holder and thus permit it to slide forwardly.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand this thirteenth day of January, l911, in the presence of two attesting Witnesses.

JOHN R. ROGERS,

carried by 

